Spark arrester



Aug. 31,1926. l

L. A. SWEM SPARKY ARRESTER original Fil-ed August 28, 1922 Patented Aug. 31, 1925.

UNITED STATES LOUIS A. SWEIVI, F SEATTLE, WASHNGTON.

SPARK ARRESTER.

Continuation of application Serial No. 584,827, filed August 28, 1922. This application filed November 1,

My invention relates to the art. of spark arresters. Vilhile my invention will be described as applied to a locomotive engine or4 the like, nevertheless, its scope is not to be limited to any such specific use.

Spark arresters as heretofore designed, which have spark extinguishing chambers wherein the exhaust steam, i. e. chamber wherein Jdie steam extinguished cools the ,sparks so that they are harmless, make no use of the back pressure to assist in keeping down the number of sparks and to save the fuel consumed. The consumption of fuel in al locomotive is well known to be attended with a great waste, the percentage of loss being determined to be as great as ninety percent. While absolutely essential in locomotives, the straight draft, reinforced by the exhausting steam from the engine cylinders, is responsible for carrying out a large percentage of the fuel, not only iu the form of large live sparks, but also in the form of finely powdered carbon. Moreover, spark arresters of present practice design do not greatly reduce the evil effects of smoke, incident to the combustion of coal or oil. Respecting oil, a large portion of this fuel is lost in the form of unburnt carbon, and accumulations of this carbon in the form of compact chunks in a highly heated condition are emitted by oilburning engines. Often such back pressure has no outlet provided and the extinguished particles of partially burned fuel, or carbon, are collected in a pocket and need to be peri* odically removed. Thus, this is not only unsatisfactory from a mechanical point of view, but introduces a labor cost for4 such removal. Also, obviously, such back pressure reacts disadvantageously to the force of the draft. Also, it is important in effecting a separation of the denser portions from the less dense portions of the smoke that the smoke and steam be discharged into the spark extinguishing chamber in a direction away from the smoke outlet, and preferably caused to strike for the most part the extinguishing chamber wall oppositely disposed to the outlet, so that the smoke and steam strike the top of the extinguishing chamber after glancing from said wall.

roviding a locomotive smoke stackwith a spark arrester necessarily reduces, at least to some extent, the magnitude of the forced draft, and reduces the steaming capacity of Serial No. 672,176.

the engine. This result follows naturally from making the course of the discharging stream of steam andsm'oke circuitous, that is, by impeding its course. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to provide a spark arrester' of such a character that the back pressure may be utilized as far as possible in increasing the draft,-that is, minimizing as greatly as possiblethe evil effect due to the adding of the arrester. Also, it is likewise important that the escape of the smoke-steam stream after extinguishing the sparks be facilitated as much as possible which avoids building up back pressure. Supplying the inverted cone with a top as hereinafter set forth accomplishes this result. A primary object of my invention is to provide a spark arrester of such a character that much of the back pressure will be utilized to reinforce the forced draft, and of such a character as to facilitate the escape of the smoke-steam stream after extinguishing the sparks, thereby minimizing as greatly as possible the ill effects of adding the Aarrester from the point of view of reducing the force of the draft.

Spark arresters of common practice design do not provide for varying the size of the spark extinguishing chamber and this is important in an efficiently operating arrester for the Vreason that in burning hard coal the quantity of gases is so much greater that the chamber capacity should be reduced; and viceversa for soft coal, when the quantity of unburnt gases is smaller than in the case of hard coal. When wood is used as the fuel,` the capacity of said chamber should be even greater than when soft coal is used.

ln general, the object of my invention is to provide a spark arrester which will overcome these objections. More particularly, a primary object of my invention is to yprovide a spark arrester which will eect a large percentage of saving in the fuel consumed by recovering the fuel values from the smoke. Again, a primary object is to .provide a spark arrester which will eliminate, for the most part, the injurious eifects of the back pressure and utilize such pressure to return the extinguished sparks or carbon to the lire box` wherein they maybe usedva's fue-l, and wherein their `discharge in a line dust-like or powder condition produces, as it were, a spontaneous combustionk CTI cident to the burning of coal, Wood orA oil as fuel. Another primary Object of my invventironl is to;r provide a spark arrester in Which the discharging current from the stack chamber and the returnybacl pressure currentareseparated', the said discharging' current being'directed away from the smoke outletl or' to` al` particular portion of the extinguishing;` chamber; Finally', a primary objeetoty my invention is to provide a spark arrester ini Wlriclr t'l'ie outlet opening into the extinguishing chamber hears af delinite rat'io-y tothe size of the stacl opening.A

lin; gener-ah lf attain these objects, by providing a partitonbetw'een saidf exhaust current und;y thez return current extending` to a point Which lies' substantially in the vertical' pl'ane passingthrough thel edge of the epeningin the t'op of them-rester; (Z2) by providing' for a ralpi'd expansion ofthe steam so astel reduce it to' a' very wet condition, so that saidi chamber is caused function very much' asA a Washing compartment for the smoke; by' providing for the' return of the extinguished particles ot carbon to the fire box' or ash pit;` (d) by providing' ttor the area out' the opening in the top off the arrester having a definite ratiov tothe annular' area of the extinguishing chamber; and (6)," by' providingA an eX- tinguishing chamher' which may be varied in size.

The ahove mentioned general objects of my invention, together Withothers inherent iir the same, are attained by the mechanism illustrated' in the followingr drawings, the samey being merely' a preferred exemplary form of embodimentV` ol my invention, throughout Wlrich drawings? like reference numerals indica-te like parts:

Figurex is a view oliv my invention applied to a steam locomotive and Fig'. 2 isa vieiv inI verticall cross-section of a Spark arrester `embodyingV my' invention.

rLIlhe stack chamber 8 is provided with an inner inverted frustrunr of' acone structure 4k ot' suitable materialwitlr respect to which an inverted cone 5' is concentrically suspended toA form the obliquely direeted channel 6- for an outlet for the exhaustin,g steam and smoke: bove the cone, cylinder 7' is disposed, depending from the top 8 of the cylinder 9, said top having' the' outlet opening l'. `An outer inverted frustrum of a cone 1l is secured on' its upper edge to the bottomedge et the cylinder 9'. thus forming the'Y spark` extinguishing chamber l2. Cylindlerl'in turnis suspended to the bottom ofj said frustrum ot' a conell. To the lower portion of the WallI of said' cylinder, the

.le and respectively hopper shaped collectors l-/land l5, (one On euch side ot the sta-slr chamber), are made secure. Connected to said collectors, iipes entend downwardly and bairwnrdly on both sides oif ine engine and un ic in pipo 18 Leadingto the tire hex i9. A cylinder 20 is adjustably mounted on rods i'or the ]')urpose et che 1;; the si e ot the extinguish kr chamber i The inode or operation ot my uerice is as follows' ll he iure-r trum or cone Ll G, (dive the outlet cone andthe' y l oviile a dire gij by reason ot einV l ea), i'or the smoke and steam. rthis divu. channel G' leads to the eX- tinguislni unber l2 disposed tl erealf'ore, Ytermed by the c vn ders T, 9 and 20. The smolre and exhausiin,` steam, upon emergingr from the smoke stack chamber i', is expanded into ring form by Channel 6` haring a rrr-atei' d1 driving area than the stach outlet. 'ilhis lnce, ob 'louslj-y, reduces the emerging' er; rent and permits it to become Wet steam. The current discharged in a direction away from the outlet 22E, (said outletbeinpj the opening` between the bottom ot the cylinder and the top et the eene and is disi-hars'ed against the side Wall oiehambcr l2 oppositely disposed to said opening 23. rEhe matter oit? the direction ot such discharge is in'iportant and vital in determining the eilieiene),v ot' the arrester. This is particulrirl),7 true when th back pressure' is utilized to return the unburnt fuel to thelire box, Where the amount of back pressure can be readily controlled by the sliding; adjustable cylinder 2t), because, obviously, to increase the chan'iber l2 by loweringcylinder 2O tends to build up pressure in said chamber. Also, maniiestly4` to lessen the size of chamher l@ is tor permit a more ready escape ot smoke and ,eases` so that hach pressure cannot be developed, or at least, will he very `greatly reduced. he: matter or back pressure is of theV utmost importance in determiningl the operability ol an arrester. Theprime requisite oit a locomotive necessarily is its ahility to develop steam; for practical operation, therefore, un arrest-er to be utilizalale must not n'iaterially interfere with the ability ot the locomotive to develop the necessary steam lor its practicable and eihcient opera'- iorce of the tion. ln this connection, exper-ien has 1. .L1 l taught that satisiaccory results a ohthis is meant the area of a plane passing through said extinguishing chamber at right angles to the vertical axis of the arrester, and bounded by, or lying between the side walls of the cylinders 9 and 20.

In further explanation of the ratio of the area of the opening l to the annular area of the extinguishing chamber, let it be noted that the volume of the blast of smoke should strike against the side wall of the cylinder 9; thence, against the top of the extinguish-` ing chamber; thence, against the wall of the cylinder thence, under cylinder 20; thence, against the top of the cone 5; and, thence, out through the opening 10. The top 25 serves as a deflector for the current, and prevents objectionable interference with the capacity of the engine to develop steam. This steaming capacity is a most important feature and fundamental, as above mentioned, to the success of any sparl arrester. Any cinders reaching this top 25 are of relatively small proportions and are extinguished, so far as any fire in them is concerned. They are readily thrown out by reason of the deflecting function of the said top, which facilitates the escape of the smokesteam stream after extinguishing the sparks. The easy escape of the stream avoids building' up back pressure. This blast has a certain velocity as well as volume. The escape area of the opening` l0 and the area of the stack opening should stand in the relation or ratio in the range between one to five (1:5) and one to seven (1:7). I find excellent results are obtained when this ratio is about one to six (1:6). Clearly, the area of the stack opening determines the volume of gases which must be handled by the spark arrester. As the area of the opening l0 is reduced in proportion to the annular area of the extinguishing` chamber, there will not be provided a sufficient opening for the ready escape of the smolre and steam, so that there will be developed an undue back pressure. Equally manifest, however, is the fact that as the area of the opening l() is increased in proportion to the annular area of the extinguishing chamber, the escape of the gases is facilitated. lfrom the ipoint of view 0f proper designing and manufacturing, the size of the arrester is of prime importance, that is, it should not be unnecessarily large, and hence, we are interested in determining the sn'iallest proportions of an arrester to handle a given quantity of smoke and steam, and thus it is that we find that the area of the opening l0 must bear the relation to the area of the stack opening which lies in the range between five to one (5:1) and seven to one 7 :1), respectively. l also find, as above noteth that the ratio of the annular area of the extinguishing chamber should be about two to one (2:1) as respects the area of the opening lO. These are primary factors and enter most emphatically into the efliciency of the operation of the arrester, even to the point of its being practically operable.

The discharging smoke and steam from the channel 6 should impinge upon the side wall of the cylinder 9 at a point below the top of said chamber about one-third or onehalf` the height of said cylinder. Experience has taught that this is a fairly constant rate for best results.

The topmost edge of the wall constituting the frustrum of the cone l preferably should not extend beyond the vertical line 24C, that is, the line lying in the vertical plane passing through the edge of the opening l0, or through the wall of the'cylinder 20. The reason for this will be manifest from the following: It will be understood that the escape of the steam and smoke through the stack is intermittent in character. There is a blast of steam followed by a period of quiet, and then another blast of steam, as the exhausting steam from the cylinders is in-v termittently allowed to escape to create the forced draft of the locomotive. When a rush of steam and smoke has occurred, the particles Vof nnburnt fuel are irst cast against Fthe side wall of the cylinder 9, then against the top of the extinguishing chamber l2, and then against the cylinder 20 constituting the inner vertical wall of the extinguishing chamber 12. By this time the force of the draft is largely expended, and the now heavy particles of unburnt fuel,- there being added to their weight the dampness of the extinguishing steam,*are caused to fall downwardly and strike against the inside of the wall constituting the frustrum of the cone l1 as indicated by the arrows. it will be understood that some of the particles of `unburnt fuel may not be forced against all of the three walls of the extinguishing chamber as above described, but may fall upon wall l1 directly after impinging upon the wall 8, constituting the top of the extinguishing chamber l2. The

arrows in full line indicate the general course of the smoke, and indicate the general course of the blast, while the arrows in.

dotted line indicate the general course of the extinguished sparks. In this wise, it will be noted that the course of the extinguished sparks is across the course of the blast, but

it will be observed that said crossing is not` simultaneous, but the crossing Aof the extinguished sparks of said course is subsequent in time, that is, during the period of relative quiet between the blasts. Having cone l wall stop at the vertical line 24 obviously provides for a larger number of the cinders pas;- ng' direct to the cinder collectors.

Having set forth the factors which determine the back pressure, be it noted that thisy haelt pressure should he suiticientto carry the extinguishedl sparks through the discharging outlets provided therefor,l and preferably these should hel carried to the iire host; for the second purpose and use oii the hack @pressure is that it is utilized in'iny device to produce a forced draft to tie lire.1 therehy providing for more coin pleteY combustion oit the fuel'v` and diminishing'` the ill elects ot reducing4 the force of the drailt hy providing'` the locomotive with the spari; arrester. Thus, the hack pressure oi? the arrester is utilized to keep the lire under a: forced draft ahnost continuously. llorced draiit as here used refers tothe cr a draft through they fire he); whether itloe hy the greater impulse of' suction dine to the escaping` ot the steain, or to the direct draft tl'irougl'i the lire resulting` from the escape ott-he hack pressure through pipe I8.

liliierent engines oi"A the rsaine inale and design andl sise ior' sonie reason vhave vai ried: capacitiesot' developingstean'i; so that it is essential to have ineens to vary the capacity ot thefextinguishinpg chamber. @ne 'torni et suchineans may he the cylinder 20; which, as herein illustrator, may he raised or lowered to vary the capacity of said chamber.

Qhviousl'y, changes may he inade in the forin dimensions; and arrangement of the partis ogii iny'l invention, Without departing;- tronil the principle thereof', the above setting` i'orth only a preferred 'torna oi' embodiinent;

I claiinv:

lf. An engine spark arrester embodying a sinolel stach nien'ih 3; an inverted rustru-m oit cone inounteclt thereon; au inverted cone axially disposed' within said trustruin of a cone forming therewith. a passageway; a second iniferted rustruin of acone sur rounding-A said lirst mentioned trustruni of a cone, the diverginglwalls of said cone frus truins and said cone startingV frein substantially the saine plane as a hase; a cylinder inounted on the top of said second frustruin of a cone; atop for said cylinder; an :.ixiallyv disposed outlet opening in said top; a cylinder depending 'from the edges oitv said outlet openin spaced above said cone, formin o" an extinguishing cha-naher with saidtop and iirst mentioned cylinder, said passageway being' disposed to direct the engine smoke-steam streain against the side wally of said etinguishinggv chan'iloer previousto iinping;` nient against said top; and cinder collecting ineinhers har-ingv an openoutlet, said in -nhers being operatively disposed with respect to said second trustruin 01"' a cone.

Q. ihn engine spark arrester embodying a sinolie str-cli inen'ioer; an inverted frustruin ot a cone inounted thereon; an inverted cone axially disposed within said linder; an, axially disposed outlet opening in a cylhider depending troni the d outlet opening` Qpa ked al` lining; an exiting ishiro with said top. and lirst ',f'ider,A said passageway heine' lisposed t said top direct the engine sinoliet sireani against the side wall of said erin lhingg chain' er previous to iinpinggeniei ainst said top'g' a third cylinder depending; troni the l'iottoni o'l said second i'rustrinn or a cone; andi cinder collecting nieinhers haiT- ing; an: ogen outlet secured to the hottoin of said third cylinder.

.finengine soarlr arrester embodying; a sinolre; steel; ineniher; an inverted 'trustruin oft af cone mounted thereon; an inverted cone a-nia l* disposed. within said irustruin oliY a cone ring therewith a passageway; atop for saith cone whereby said top may operate as a dei'leetor for the escaping snelle-steam strea-in; av second inverted 'tri-istruin ol a cone surrounding said first mentioned irustruinof a cone; a cylinder n'iounted on the top of said second ifrustrinxi of ak cone; a top'tor said cylinder' disposed outlet opening in sai-a. c3 i e a. cylinder depending,` treintlie edges of outlet openino spaced above said cone; 'torio ing an extinguishing' chainher with said cylinder topy and first mentioned cylinder, said passageway being disposed to direct the `gine smoke-steamy stream against the side wall oifvsaid es;tinguishing` chainhe previous toinrpingeinent against said cylinder top;

and einden collecting ineinhers having af. open outlet; said; ineinhers being operatively disgosed with respect to said second 'frustruin' oii ai cone;

il. Pin-engnie spark arrester crnhodyinfa` a smoke stach inemher; an inverted frustruin cone oi" a. cone mountedl thereon; an inve"ted axially disposed within said 'trust Y cone; torining therewith a passagewL top, for said cone 'whereby said top operate as a deliector for the cscaf srnolzesteain stream; a second inverted irristrurn oli a cone surrounding; said iirst nicntioned .trnstrum of a cene; a cylinder inconted on,y the bop ot said second irustruni ot a cone; a top ior said cylinder; an axially disposed' outlet opening; in said cylinder top; acylinder dependingfroni the edges of outlet openinajspaced above said cone ingg an extrneuishinel chamber with said ovlinder top andrst mentioned cylinder, said passageway being disposed to direct the envgine smoke-steam stream against the side wall of said extinguishin chamber previous to impingement against said cylinder top; a third cylinder depending from the bottom of said second i'iustrum ot a cone; and cinder collecting members having an open outlet secured to the bottom of said third cylinder.

5. An engine spark arrester embodying a smoke stack member; an inverted trustrum of a cone mounted thereon; an inverted cone axially disposed within said rustrum ofv a cone forming therewith a passageway; a second inverted trustrum ci a cone surrounding said first mentioned frustrum of a cone; a cylinder mounted on the top of said second firustrum of a cone; a top for said cylinder; an axially disposed outlet opening in said top; a cylinder depending trom the edges of said outlet opening spaced above said cone, forming an extinguishing chamber with said top and first mentioned cylinder; the uppermost edge of said first mentioned frustrum ot a conc extending to a point substantially in a` vertical line through the wall of said depending cylinder; members.

G. An engine spark arrester embodying a smoke stack member; an inverted trustrum of a cone mounted thereon; an inverted cone axially disposed within said trustrum ot a cone Yformingtherewith a passageway; a second inverted f'rustrum of a cone surrounding said first mentioned 'frustrum of a cone; a cylinder mounted on the top of said second `trustrum of a cone; a top for said cylinder; an axially disposed outlet opening in said top; a cylinder depending from the edges ot said outlet opening spaced above said cone forming an extinguishing chamber' with said top and first mentioned cylinder, said passageway being disposed to direct the engine smoke-steam stream against the side wall of said extinguishing chamber; the uppermost edge of said first mentioned frustrum ot a cone extending to a point substantially in a vertical line through the wall ot said depending` cylinder; and cinder collecting members7 whereby extinguished cinders may -tall during the interval between the engine exhaust periods across said passageway.

7. An engine spark arrester embodying a smoke stack member; an inverted rustrum ot' a cone mounted thereon; an inverted cone axially disposed within said rustrum of a cone forming therewith a passageway; a second firustrum oiI a cone surrounding said firstmentioned trustrum of a cone; a cylinder mounted on the top oi"A said second :trustrum of a cone; a top tor said cylinder; an axially disposed outlet opening in said top, the area ot said opening and the area ot said smoke stack having a ratio7 respectively, one to the other; which lies in the range of five to one (5 :1) and seven to one (7 :1) 5 a cylinder deand cinder collecting' pending from the edges of said outlet opening spaced above said cone forming an extinguishing chamber With said top and first mentioned cylinder; and cinder collecting members.

8. An engine spark arrester embodying a smoke stack member; an inverted frustrum of a cone mounted thereon; an inverted cone axially disposed within said rustrum of a cone forming therewith a passageway; a second inverted frustrum of a cone surrounding said first mentioned trustrum of a cone; a cylinder mounted on the top of said second frustrum of a cone; a top for said cylinder; an axially disposed outlet opening in said top; a cylinder depending from the edges of said outlet opening spaced above said cone, forming an extinguishing chamber with said top and first mentioned cylinder, the area of said outlet opening and the annular area of said extinguishing chamber having a ratio, respectively, which is substantially not less than one to two (1:2); and cinder collecting members.

9. An engine spark arrester embodying a smoke stack member; an inverted trustrum of a cone mounted thereon; an inverted cone axially disposed within said frustrum of a cone forming .therewith a passageway; a second inverted frustrum of a cone surrounding said first mentioned frustrum of a cone; a cylinder mounted on the top of said second frustrum of a cone; a top for said cylinder; an axially disposed outlet opening in said top, the area of said opening and the area of said smoke stack having a ratio, respectively, one to the other, which lies in the range of five to one (5:1) and seven to one (7 :1); a cylinder depending from the edges of said outlet opening spaced above said cone, forming an extinguishing chamber with said top and irst mentioned cylinder, the area of said outlet opening and the annular area of said extinguishing chamber having a ratio, respectively, which is substantially not less than one to two (1 2) and cinder collecting members.

10. An engine spark arrester embodying a smoke stack member; an inverted trustrum of a cone mounted thereon; an inverted cone axially disposed Within said rustrum of a cone forming therewith a pasageway; a sec,- ond inverted frustrum of a cone surround ing said first mentioned frustrum oi a cone; a cylinder mounted on the top of said second frustrum of a cone; a top for said cylinder; anl axially disposed outlet opening in said top; a vertically adjustable cylinder depending from the edges of said outlet opening, spaced above said cone, forming an extinguishing chamber With said `top and rst mentioned cylinder; the uppermost edge of said first mentioned rustrum of a cone extending to a point substantially in a vertical line through the wall of said dependill? 'ing i Cylinder g :eind einde coll eating 'meinbeie1 11. An enginefsparl arrester embodying e srolfelstaelJ member; ein inyeited ruetinin 'effe-eene niountedtheieon; l'en inverted cone axially disposed Within seid rustruin of e `vGone forming therewith e passageway; e second in-veited 'frustruni of a @one sui'- fronnding seid rliist'lnentioned fifustiiun of e eene; e Cylindermountedonthe top o1 seid second iustiuin-of zt cone; e top 'for said cylinder.; :in axially disposed outlet openingniseid top; eycylindei'depending from 'the edges of seid outlet opening spaced -ztbov'e 'Said Cone, forming en extinguishing' 'chamber with seid :top 'end -iirst mentioned cylinder, seid lpessegewey fleeing disposed to 'diieet the engine smoke-steam. Stream chamber, kthe uppermost edge ofi lseid rst mentioned 'trust-ruin of a .Cone extending;- to

e point substantially in @i 'xfeitieal line 'through ythe Well of said depending cylinder; e third cylinder depending from Athe bottom o1" seid seeond tifustium of 'a eene; and eindei I'Collecting members keying en open outlet Secured 'to fthe zbottoni 'of seid third cylinder, whereby extinguishedfcindei's -1na1-y ffe'll during the intel-vel between the engine exhaust 'periods "across seid v`peee'zzge- Way.

lfn witness whereof, I liei'eunto `:subscribe -niy jnzime gthis 27th day 'of "@otoljei, IL. D.

' VLOUIS A. 'SVEBL 

